If you can’t buy fresh goat meat to take home, you can opt for pre-cooked goat meat. Dried garlic-marinated goat meat is a specialty that many people buy as souvenirs.

To make this delicacy, the locals choose leg meat, clean and marinate it with garlic, chili, and secret spices. The meat is then dried in the sun or smoked. When you bite into a piece of this dried goat meat, you’ll instantly taste the sweet meat and the spicy, garlicky kick from the chili and garlic. It’s the perfect snack to enjoy with friends or as a side dish with drinks.

Crispy Rice

This is one of Ninh Binh’s famous specialties, loved by many tourists. What sets this crispy rice apart is the use of Hai Hau fragrant rice – a sticky and aromatic rice variety. The rice is cooked to perfection, then spread thinly in a cast iron pan and fried until golden and crispy.

Ninh Binh’s crispy rice is typically served with a savory sauce made from mountain goat meat and pork floss. The sauce is fragrant, sweet, and savory, and when combined with fried shallots, it adds a buttery and delicious dimension to the dish.

Gia Vien Shrimp Paste

When you visit and explore Ninh Binh, don’t miss out on a unique delicacy from this region – Gia Vien shrimp paste. Unlike other Ninh Binh souvenirs that are readily available in the market, this shrimp paste offers a completely new and exciting flavor.

The shrimp used to make this paste are carefully selected from the flooded plains of Gia Vien, Ninh Binh. While you can enjoy this shrimp paste all year round, it’s best savored during winter. This is also the ideal time for shrimp fishing, and the temperature is perfect for fermenting the paste.

The hallmark of well-made shrimp paste is its deep reddish-orange color and a pungent yet not overpowering spicy aroma. Gia Vien shrimp paste is versatile and can be used in various dishes such as steamed or boiled meat dips. For the full experience, pair it with fresh herbs, unripe bananas, or star fruit, and we guarantee you’ll be craving more after the first bite!

Dong Giao Pineapples

Ninh Binh is home to the famous Tam Diep pineapple hills, a popular tourist destination. But it’s not just the views that attract visitors – the pineapples grown here, known as Dong Giao pineapples, have become a renowned product of this region and are listed among the 50 most famous fruits of Vietnam.

Dong Giao pineapples have a vibrant orange-yellow hue, a sweet and fragrant taste, and are remarkably free of fiber. They are also packed with nutrients, making them a popular choice for both snacks and culinary creations.

Yen Mac Fermented Pork

Yen Mac fermented pork is a traditional delicacy from Ninh Binh, derived from the original fermented pork recipe that originated in the Hue imperial city. What sets this region’s fermented pork apart is the use of pork butt instead of other cuts of meat typically used in similar dishes.

The pork butt is finely sliced without being minced or boiled. Only the lean meat is used, and the recipe does not include boiled pork fat or skin, or MSG. Yen Mac fermented pork has a mild sourness, a touch of sweetness, and a delightful aroma from the high-quality meat. It is typically enjoyed with starfruit leaves, sung leaves, or laksa leaves, dipped in a sauce made from fish sauce, garlic, and chili, and paired with a glass of local rice wine.

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